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Career Academies

Evidence Rating

Scientifically Supported

Health Factors

Decision Makers

Career Academies are small learning communities within high schools that focus on specific vocational fields such as health care, finance, technology, communications, or public service. Career Academies organize academic, college preparatory, and technical education around a career theme, apply academic skills to real world problems, and offer exploratory field trips and work experience through partnerships with local employers (CCASN).

Expected Beneficial Outcomes (Rated)

Increased high school graduation

Increased academic achievement

Improved student attendance

Other Potential Beneficial Outcomes

Increased earnings

Evidence of Effectiveness

There is strong evidence that Career Academies help at-risk students progress through high school and avoid dropping out (SPTW, IES WWC, Blueprints). Career Academies are a type of dropout prevention program that involve school or class restructuring; such programs have been shown to increase school completion (Campbell-Wilson 2011, CG-TFR Education).

Students in danger of dropping out who enroll in Career Academies are more likely to stay in school, maintain better attendance, and earn more credits toward graduation than non-enrolled at-risk students (IES WWC, YG-CA, Blueprints). Career Academy graduates appear to earn substantially more than their non-Career Academy counterparts in early adulthood. These labor market effects are especially strong among young men (Blueprints, MDRC-Career Academies), and persist eight years after program completion (SPTW).

Research indicates that effective Career Academy programs combine career advising with college visits and assistance with the college financial aid process. Researchers also recommend that programs offer professional development to teach staff and teachers how to integrate academic and career content (IES WWC-Dynarski 2008).

Impact on Disparities

Likely to decrease disparities

Implementation Examples

There are approximately 7,000 Career Academies nationwide (Newcomb ML, Parker E. LegisBrief: The rise of career academies. National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). 2013;21(37).Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)NCSL-Newcomb 2013, NCAC-Career academies). The Career Academy Support Network works closely with Career Academies in individual school districts and twenty states and supports development and improvement of Career Academies across the nation (CCASN). The National Career Academy Coalition recognizes model academies across the US, including schools recently recognized in Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas (NCAC-Model academies).

The Exploring College and Career Options (ECCO) program, developed by MDRC, includes curricula, resources, guides, and professional development materials to support Career Academies (MDRC-Career Academies, ConnectEd-ECCO).

Implementation Resources

CCASN - College & Career Academy Support Network (CCASN). Remaking high school.

NCAC - National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC). Collaborative support and resources for existing and emerging Career Academies.

Date Last Updated

Scientifically Supported: Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.

Some Evidence: Strategies with this rating are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. These strategies have been tested more than once and results trend positive overall.

Expert Opinion: Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.

Insufficient Evidence: Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.

Mixed Evidence: Strategies with this rating have been tested more than once and results are inconsistent or trend negative; further research is needed to confirm effects.

Evidence of Ineffectiveness: Strategies with this rating are not good investments. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently negative and sometimes harmful results.